“Dancing With the Stars” 20th Anniversary: Perfect Scores, Record Votes, and One Emotional Elimination.
Spoiler Alert: This recap covers the Tuesday, Nov. 11 episode of “Dancing With the Stars.”
“Dancing With the Stars” just turned 20 — and the show marked the milestone in true ballroom style. The special anniversary episode of Season 34 was packed with nostalgia, guest appearances, emotional tributes, and some of the highest scores of the season — along with a surprising elimination.
A Star-Studded Celebration
The night kicked off with a dazzling opening number choreographed by Derek Hough, featuring a live reimagined version of the “DWTS” theme song. Fans got a major dose of nostalgia when six original pros from Season 1 — Alec Mazo, Ashly DelGrosso, Louis van Amstel, Jonathan Roberts, Charlotte Jorgensen, and Edyta Śliwińska — returned to the ballroom.
Former host Tom Bergeron even made a special comeback as a guest judge, joining in on the celebration as the show hit a record-breaking number of audience votes.
Emotional Moments and Perfect Scores
One of the most touching moments came when Robert Irwin and his partner Witney Carson performed a heartfelt foxtrot to Leona Lewis’ “Footprints in the Sand,” dedicated to Robert’s late father, Steve Irwin. Before the routine, Robert revealed that Prince William had FaceTimed him during rehearsals. The emotional performance ended with a video of young Robert and his dad, bringing both him and Witney to tears — and earning them the first perfect 40 of the season.
The night didn’t stop there. Dylan Efron and Daniella Karagach wowed the judges with an Argentine Tango to “Ain’t No Sunshine,” also earning a perfect 40. Alix Earle and Val Chmerkovskiy scored 40 for their elegant foxtrot to “Singin’ in the Rain,” while Whitney Leavitt and Mark Ballas joined the club with a fiery Argentine Tango to “Cell Block Tango” from Chicago.
A Twist in the Relay Round
The second round brought back the fan-favorite Relay Dance, but with a new twist — each celebrity teamed up with a past mirrorball champion instead of their usual partner. After a series of quicksteps, waltzes, and jives, Robert Irwin, Dylan Efron, and Whitney Leavitt all gained extra points from the judges.
Despite the night’s high scores, not everyone could make it through. When the judges’ points and audience votes were combined, Andy Richter ended up at the bottom and was sent home.
Fan Reactions
Social media exploded during the episode, with fans cheering and crying along with their favorites:
“FIRST PERFECT SCORE OF THE SEASON ROBERT IRWIN #DWTS,” one user tweeted.
Another fan posted, “Both Robert Irwin and Witney Carson in tears after winning a perfect score has me crying — I’m so proud of them!”
And one viewer summed up the emotion of the night perfectly: “Dedicating a dance to your iconic father, including your sister in the dance, and getting a perfect score — Robert Irwin, you are a star.”
The Final Leaderboard
Robert Irwin & Witney Carson: 40/40
Dylan Efron & Daniella Karagach: 40/40
Alix Earle & Val Chmerkovskiy: 40/40
Whitney Leavitt & Mark Ballas: 40/40
Jordan Chiles & Ezra Sosa: 37/40
Elaine Hendrix & Alan Bersten: 36/40
Andy Richter & Emma Slater: 29/40
The celebration proved that even after two decades, “Dancing With the Stars” still knows how to bring the drama, the glamour, and the heart.
